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Background and aim <p>Pregabalin (a Gabapentinoid) has been shown to have potential for non-medical use. We aimed at exploring the prevalence and clinical correlates of non-medical use of pregabalin and dependence in patients seeking treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs).</p> Materials and methods <p>Patients with ICD-10 diagnosis for various SUDs, in the age range of 18–70 years who consented for participation in this study were evaluated for non-medical use and dependence of pregabalin across three different regions of Punjab and the union territory of Chandigarh. ICD-10 criteria for a dependence syndrome (three or more criteria) were used for defining dependence on pregabalin.</p> Results <p>Out of a total 974 patients enrolled in this study, 44.6% of study participants were using pregabalin and 24.8% fulfilled ICD-10 criteria for a dependence syndrome. Compared to study subjects having non-medical use of pregabalin, a significant number of persons using pregabalin in dependent fashion consumed pregabalin with a frequency of more than 3 times/day (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), with daily consumption of pregabalin in doses more than 1200&#xa0;mg/day (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) and suffered from seizures (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Significantly high rates of pregabalin non-medical use and dependence were observed in Sikh patients (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.01), living in rural areas (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.01), who were unmarried/single (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), educated more than 10 years (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.01), and with an opioid use disorder (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Pregabalin non-medical use and dependence were also significantly higher in younger patients (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), with a younger age of onset of substance use disorder (<i>p</i> = 0.014) and with shorter duration of substance use (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). The odds of use of pregabalin were higher in patients with opioid use disorder (aOR = 5.3, 95% CI 3.5–7.9; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) in comparison to those with alcohol use disorder.</p> Conclusion <p>These high estimates for non-medical use and dependence of pregabalin in our study are an early indication of rising problem of pregabalin use amongst the patients with substance use disorders. We draw attention of the healthcare providers and policy makers in formulation of strategies to screen for pregabalin non-medical use and dependence, formulate treatment strategies and devise policy changes to address diversion of pregabalin in view of its non-medical use potential.</p>

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A hospital-based multi-centric observational study to explore the prevalence and correlates of non-medical use and dependence of pregabalin among the patients with substance use disorder in Punjab & Chandigarh

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月16日

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  • Jitender Aneja,
  • Neeru Bala,
  • Ajeet Sidana,
  • Rohit Garg,
  • Sandeep Goyal,
  • Sharanjot Kaur,
  • Lokesh Goyal,
  • Ira Domun,
  • Rahul Bangar,
  • Madhur Verma,
  • Bharat Udey,
  • Jawahar Singh

摘要

Background and aim

Pregabalin (a Gabapentinoid) has been shown to have potential for non-medical use. We aimed at exploring the prevalence and clinical correlates of non-medical use of pregabalin and dependence in patients seeking treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs).

Materials and methods

Patients with ICD-10 diagnosis for various SUDs, in the age range of 18–70 years who consented for participation in this study were evaluated for non-medical use and dependence of pregabalin across three different regions of Punjab and the union territory of Chandigarh. ICD-10 criteria for a dependence syndrome (three or more criteria) were used for defining dependence on pregabalin.

Results

Out of a total 974 patients enrolled in this study, 44.6% of study participants were using pregabalin and 24.8% fulfilled ICD-10 criteria for a dependence syndrome. Compared to study subjects having non-medical use of pregabalin, a significant number of persons using pregabalin in dependent fashion consumed pregabalin with a frequency of more than 3 times/day (p < 0.001), with daily consumption of pregabalin in doses more than 1200 mg/day (p < 0.001) and suffered from seizures (p < 0.001). Significantly high rates of pregabalin non-medical use and dependence were observed in Sikh patients (p < 0.01), living in rural areas (p < 0.01), who were unmarried/single (p < 0.001), educated more than 10 years (p < 0.01), and with an opioid use disorder (p < 0.001). Pregabalin non-medical use and dependence were also significantly higher in younger patients (p < 0.001), with a younger age of onset of substance use disorder (p = 0.014) and with shorter duration of substance use (p < 0.001). The odds of use of pregabalin were higher in patients with opioid use disorder (aOR = 5.3, 95% CI 3.5–7.9; p < 0.001) in comparison to those with alcohol use disorder.

Conclusion

These high estimates for non-medical use and dependence of pregabalin in our study are an early indication of rising problem of pregabalin use amongst the patients with substance use disorders. We draw attention of the healthcare providers and policy makers in formulation of strategies to screen for pregabalin non-medical use and dependence, formulate treatment strategies and devise policy changes to address diversion of pregabalin in view of its non-medical use potential.